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Peters had this to ad:U.S. Rep. Gary Peters sent President Barack Obama a letter Friday urging him to create a Detroit task force to maximize investment in the bankrupt city and ensure that resources — both public and private — are well spent.In the letter, Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, builds off the efforts already underway by top-level Obama administration officials. Earlier Friday, labor leaders met with officials at the White Houseregarding a response to Detroit.
But Peters said there also needs to be efforts to create “transparent, data-driven metrics” that give the public and private shareholders a clear picture of the returns on their investments, and to build a process that cuts through bureaucratic red tape to get funds where they are most needed in the city.
“(No) one in Detroit is asking for a bailout, and a bailout is not what Detroit needs to prosper and grow,” wrote Peters. “As the city competes against those across the country for federal investments, we have a vested interest in ensuring that every dollar is invested efficiently.” - Observer & Eccentric, 9/13/13
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Peters isn't alone asking for help to revive the Motor City:“I believe that a Detroit Interagency Task Force — in partnership with a diverse group of private and public stakeholders — could be an important next step for the city. This new task force should use existing resources to locate critical staff from core task force member agencies in Detroit and focus on best practices for investment implementation.”The White House has been holding a series of meetings and the National Economic Council has directed agencies and cabinet department to look at grants Detroit receives to determine it they are being used in the best manner.
On Friday, NEC director Gene Sperling and two cabinet secretaries met with labor leaders, including United Auto Workers President Bob King, about Detroit’s financial woes. - The Detroit News, 9/13/13
Hopefully Peters will get some sort of response and action from the White House. Again, glad to see him take action. By the way, looks like one of Obama's people is running for Peters' district:Labor leaders took their turn visiting the White House on Friday to talk about what can and should be done for bankrupt Detroit, while also cautioning the Obama administration that the financial problems experienced in southeastern Michigan may soon be felt in many other metropolitan areas across the U.S.Calling for a plan that would not only address Detroit's concerns but also serve as a playbook for future crises, the group — which included the UAW's Bob King and others — left the hourlong meeting touting few specifics but saying the groundwork was laid for a response that could help address Detroit's issues by attracting new jobs and development.
"They are very much aware of the problem," Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said after the meeting. "This is not only a Detroit problem. ... This is an issue that confronts urban centers across the country."
The meeting was one in a series that administration officials have been engaged in as they attempt to give voice to the various groups impacted by the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. While a federal bailout has been ruled out, the Obama administration has still been trying to coordinate a response to the crisis. - USA Today, 9/13/13
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If you would like to donate to Peters' campaign, you can do so here:Jessica McCall, a Farmington Hills resident and former staffer for the Granholm and Obama administrations, announced Monday she is seeking the job in the 2014 election.U.S. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, currently represents the district that includes parts of Detroit and Wayne and Oakland counties, but he’s seeking election to the U.S. Senate in 2014 to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit.
“I am running for Congress because I believe the people of the 14th District deserve a strong leader who will put their interests first,” McCall said in a statement. “From ensuring that the Affordable Health Care Act is improved and implemented to rebuilding our struggling city and economy to protecting our retirees, the residents of Southeast Michigan are dealing with real issues that need real solutions.”
McCall entered politics as a volunteer for Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s 2002 campaign and later became her transition adviser, according to McCall’s biography. McCall said she worked for the presidential inaugural committee, director of scheduling for First Lady Michelle Obama during the 2012 re-election campaign and for the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during Obama’s first term. - The Detroit News, 9/16/13
